Brits face travel chaos as Edinburgh airport closed and flights diverted
Reports claim that Edinburgh Airport has been closed causing chaos for holidaymakers in Scotland. Planes have been forced to hold or divert landing this morning.
The frustrating closure is allegedly due to emergency runway repairs which were underway earlier this morning , states the Mirror. Holidaymakers stuck int he airport have taken to social media to make their thoughts known.
Michael Bull was stuck on a plane, waiting to take off, only to be told it will be held for at least half an hour. Another plane which was ten minutes out from Edinburgh Airport was suddenly diverted before landing a second person wrote.
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Photos show ongoing runway work. Other planes are generally being diverted to Newcastle and Glasgow in the interim.
The issue reportedly began at around 8am the morning with flights delayed or sent elsewhere to land. Workers began emergency repairs as soon as they were able.
Flight tracking apps show planes approaching Edinburgh Airport that can be seen circling the closed airport while others move away after being given new guidance.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: "Arrivals and departures were suspended for a short period while our teams carried out emergency repairs on our airfield.
"This has since been completed and all operations have resumed. Safety is our priority and we thank passengers for their patience."
If your holiday or flight has been cancelled or delayed contact your airline for next steps. You may be booked onto another flight or offered compensation.
If your airline can't help you contact your travel insurance provider for help. It's important to know your rights when at the airport.
Your rights if a holiday is cancelled
When a travel company cancels your holiday, you're entitled to a full refund.
You may be offered alternatives like rebooking or vouchers – you're free to choose these instead, but you can have the refund if that's your preferred option.
The CMA says you're entitled to a refund within 14 days of the cancellation date.
It adds: "Your refund should be provided irrespective of whether the company you booked with has received funds from other companies involved in your trip, such as airlines."
If your flight is cancelled but not your trip, ABTA says: "If your flight is cancelled and you’ve booked a package holiday, you are entitled to a suitable alternative flight or, if that’s not possible, a full refund." You can find out more at abta.com and gov.uk.
If your flight is delayed
If your flight is delayed, the length of your delay and flight both come into play.
The Civil Aviation Authority says that you're entitled to compensation for the following:
- Short-haul flight of under 1,500km – £220 if you wait more than two hours
- Medium-haul flight of 1,500km – 3,500km – £350 if you wait more than three hours
- Long-haul flight of over 3,500km £520 if you wait more than four hours (if it's under four hours then you may be entitled to £260)
When your flight is delayed, your airline should provide you with vouchers for food and drink, or accommodation if this is needed. (This can include booking a hotel and arranging transportation).
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